Elder Basic Benefits Training Additional Options for Income - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Elder Basic Benefits Training

Additional Options for Income Maximization

June 30, 2020 Rachel Shannon Brown

Session Objectives

 Identify several programs that can assist with income

maximization, as well as whether those programs have changed in light of COVID-19:

 SNAP (aka “food stamps”)  LIHEAP (aka “fuel assistance”)  State Veterans Services Benefits (aka “chapter 115

benefits”)

 Senior Circuit Breaker Credit  Economic Impact Payments

 Understand where to get more information

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SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(aka Food Stamps)

 Title 106 Code of Mass. Regulations §§ 360-367  Use for household foods; cannot use for alcohol, tobacco,

nonfood items (such as household supplies and paper products), vitamins and medicines

 Online purchasing now available through Amazon and Walmart  Administered in Massachusetts by the Department of

Transitional Assistance

 Apply online (https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/), in

person, or by mail.

 Simplified application for elder applicants (60 or older)  Elders are not required to have an in-office interview  DTA Senior Assistance Office: 833-712-8027

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SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

 Benefits are determined based on financial eligibility

 http://www.gettingsnap.org/

 Some households will be subject to an asset limit  Elder applicants can deduct uncapped shelter expenses

and unreimbursed medical expenses from their income

 Once approved, most households are certified for

12 months. If all household members over 60 or have disabilities, and have stable income such as SSI, the benefits are certified for three years.

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SNAP Appeal Rights

 Applicants can appeal denials and benefit calculations

 Appeal within 90 days from the date of the DTA notice

for reductions, terminations, or denials

 Appeal within 120 days for worker “bad conduct” and

cases where DTA does not act on a request

 If lose at the fair hearing level, additional appeal rights

available through the court system

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SNAP COVID-19 Changes

 Households already receiving SNAP benefits were

temporarily increased to the maximum benefit for April – June in response to the pandemic

 DTA offices are closed, so all hearings are

currently being conducted on the phone and applications should be done online or through the mail

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LIHEAP: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

(aka Fuel Assistance)

 Benefits vary based on household income, housing status,

fuel type, and heating costs

 Households with incomes up to 60% of the area median

income can qualify

 For FY2020, can receive up to $1,360 (oil, propane,

kerosene, or other) or $1,005 (utilities or heat included in the rent)

 Can qualify for additional help under the “high energy

benefit” if a household’s fuel bills were high last year

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LIHEAP: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

 Apply through town-specific agency

 Locate your nearest office via the Cold Relief Heatline

(800-632-8175) or online (https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/)

 Apply from November 1 – April 30; if denied, appeal

through the agency

 First-time applicants must apply in person at the fuel

assistance agency in their area

 Households must apply each year; applications are mailed

to households after the first year

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LIHEAP: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

 Those facing a heating emergency can get their application

processing expedited

 Other benefits:

 Free weatherization assistance such as insulation and

weather-stripping

 Heating system repairs/replacement through

HEARTWAP (Heating Energy Assistance Retrofit Weatherization Assistance Program)

 Discounts for some utility and telephone rates

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LIHEAP COVID-19 Changes

 As of April, all Fuel Assistance Agencies were

waiving the face to face requirement to apply and were taking applications over the phone

 So far, there has not been an announcement about

whether this will be the case for the next round of applications

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State Veterans Services Benefits

(aka Chapter 115 Benefits)

 Title 108 Code of Mass. Regulations  Needs-based program provides financial assistance for

food, shelter, clothing, and medical care

 Cash benefits depend on living arrangements, shelter

expenses, ages of children, disability needs, etc

 Can also offer:

 Medical coverage;  Referrals;  Catastrophe/disaster benefits;  Back rent/mortgage arrears;  Utility arrears;  Emergency home repairs;  Moving and transportation

assistance (including medical transportation);

 Home health aid and visiting

nurse services; and,

 Dental services

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State Veterans Services Benefits

 Income limits are tied to 200% of the federal poverty level

 Chapter 115 program income limits change with the

fiscal year, so the income limits will change as of July 1, 2020

 In FY19, single applicants living alone could qualify

for up to $1436/month in cash benefits

 Those exceeding the income limits may still qualify for

medical expense reimbursements

 FY19 asset limits:

 $5000 for an individual  $9,800 for a couple

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State Veterans Services Benefits

 Must be a Veteran or an “eligible dependent”

 Veteran: more information about length of service

requirements (both peacetime and wartime) available at https://www.masslegalservices.org/system/files/library/ Definition%20of%20Massachusetts%20Veteran.pdf

 Eligible dependents include spouses,

widows/widowers, parents, and children under certain circumstances

 Benefit does not count as income in determining financial

eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or MassHealth

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State Veterans Services Benefits

 To apply, contact your local Veterans’ Services Officer

(VSO)

 http://www.mass.gov/veterans/utility/local-veterans-service-

• fficers-3.html

 Can appeal any action taken by a VSO by filing an appeal

to the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) within 21 days of the date of the Notice of Action

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State Veterans Services Benefits COVID-19 Changes

 DVS has made temporary changes which will last through

September 1, 2020, including:

 VSOs can approve applications without first obtaining DVS

preapproval

 VSOs will exercise “liberal judgment” and have been

instructed to draw “reasonable conclusions” in favor of the applicant

 Applicants are only required to provide minimum proof of

eligibility

 Unemployed applicants do not have to actively seek work

during the public health crisis

 Appeal hearings will be held telephonically

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Senior Circuit Breaker Credit

 Refundable credit of up to $1130 (for tax year

2019) on personal state income tax returns

 Does not count as income for most benefits

programs

 Requirements:

 Massachusetts resident (or part-year resident);  65 or older by December 31, 2019;  Own or rent residential property in Massachusetts

and occupy it as a primary residence;

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Senior Circuit Breaker Credit

 For the tax year 2019, total Mass. income cannot

exceed:

 $60,000 for a single individual who is not the head of

household;

 $75,000 for a head of household; or,  $90,000 for married couples filing a joint return

 For homeowners, Mass. property tax payments,

together with half of water and sewer expense, must exceed 10% total Mass. income for the tax year

 For renters, 25% of annual Mass. rent must exceed 10%

• f total Mass. income for the tax year

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Senior Circuit Breaker Credit

 Example: Alpha Renter has an annual income of $18,000

($1,500/month) from Social Security and pays an annual rent of $9,600 ($800/month). How much does Alpha qualify for?

 Answer: $600.

 10% income = $1,800  25% rent = $2,400  $2,400-$1,800 = credit to elder

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Senior Circuit Breaker Credit

 Example: Beta Homeowner has an annual income of

$18,000 ($1,500/month) from Social Security and annual real estate taxes (plus ½ water and sewer) of $3,600/year. How much does Beta qualify for?

 Answer: $1,130.

 10% income = $1,800  Real Estate taxes (plus ½ water and sewer) = $3,600  $3,600-$1,800 = $1,800  This exceeds the 2019 tax year limit, so the credit

would be reduced to the $1,130 maximum amount

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Senior Circuit Breaker Credit COVID-19 Changes

 State and Federal income tax deadlines

were extended from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020, so it is not too late to take advantage of the Senior Circuit Breaker Credit for 2019

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Economic Impact Payments

 $1200 available to single tax filers with adjusted gross income

(AGI) up to $75,000; reduced benefit with AGI up to $99,000

 $1200 available to head of household filers with AGI up to

$112,500; reduced benefit with AGI up to $136,500

 $2400 available to those married filing jointly with AGI up to

$150,000; reduced benefit with AGI up to $198,000

 $500 is available for each additional qualifying child under age

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Economic Impact Payments: Who Needs to Act?

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Should automatically receive a payment

Anyone who filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 Social Security, SSDI, SSI, VA, and Railroad Retirement Recipients

May need to request a payment

Other low-income or no- income individuals (via IRS’ “non-filer tool” by October 15) New qualifying children can be claimed for additional credit in 2020 tax returns

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Economic Impact Payments: Additional Considerations

 Does not count as income for Supplemental Security

Income (SSI), SNAP, or MassHealth

 Should not count as an asset for those programs until after

12 months  Can be garnished for past-due child support  Representative Payees should not be spending an EIP on

behalf of their beneficiary

 4 million+ EIPs are being issued on prepaid debit cards,

arriving in plain envelopes from “Money Network Cardholder Services” that many have mistaken as junk mail

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For Additional Information . . .

 www.masslegalhelp.org: Funded by the Massachusetts

Legal Assistance Corporation, this website is part of the Massachusetts Legal Websites Project and provides basic legal information to the public.

 https://www.masslegalservices.org: Includes detailed

information on many benefit programs and other legal issues.

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For Additional Information . . .

 http://mass211.org: An online resource to connect

Massachusetts residents to information about critical health and human services available in their communities.

 https://www.masslegalservices.org/FindLegalAid: Can

help identify civil (non-criminal) legal aid resources based

• n location and/or area of law, among other resources.

Community Legal Aid Last updated 6.22.2020